Victorian premier Denis Napthine will lead a special taskforce to generate new job opportunities for workers and communities affected by last week’s Ford bombshell announcement of an end to Australian manufacturing.
The taskforce will take action to diversify economies, build confidence and encourage investment in Geelong and the northern metropolitan area of Melbourne.
It is a new measure in addition to the $52 million joint Commonwealth and state government jobs package announced yesterday.
“As premier, I will lead this taskforce which is dedicated to ensuring the people affected by Ford’s decision are provided with every opportunity to take up new jobs and new business opportunities,” says Napthine.
“As part of the initiative, the coalition government will sponsor a jobs summit in Geelong next month, bringing together key stakeholders from the region to debate issues and challenges, while identifying the opportunities to diversify our industries and generate new employment options in areas that will be strong now, and into the future.
“We will also be taking advice from the communities of the cities of Hume and Whittlesea on whether a similar event would be of benefit to the people of Broadmeadows and Campbellfield.”
The taskforce will include:
· Premier of Victoria Denis Napthine (Chair);
· Deputy premier and minister for state development Peter Ryan;
· Minister for higher education and skills Peter Hall; and
· Minister for manufacturing, major projects and ports David Hodgett.
“There are challenges in the manufacturing industry but there are also significant opportunities,” says Napthine.
“Already, only part-way through the first round of our ‘greater Geelong industry fund’, we have seen a significant number of jobs created in the advanced manufacturing sector by assisting firms to innovate, develop new products and expand into new and emerging markets.
“This taskforce will identify and create many more similar success stories through the upcoming jobs summit and through our continuing program of international trade missions to expanding markets.
“We will also continue to lead the charge to secure Geelong as the headquarters of the national disability insurance agency – which will bring 500 new jobs to the region – and for the east-west link, which will create 3200 jobs in Melbourne,” says Napthine.
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